Effect of brefeldin A on Mayaro virus replication in Aedes albopictus and Vero cells

Brefeldin A (BFA), a fungal metabolite that blocks transport of newly synth esized proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum, was found to inhibit Mayaro virus replication. At the concentration of 0.05 mu g/ml, the yield of the virus was inhibited by 94% in Aedes albopictus cells and by 99.5% in Vero c ells. Treatment of A. albopictus cells with BFA did not inhibit the virus p rotein synthesis. However, this compound drastically reduced vit al protein synthesis in Vero cells. The inhibitory effect progressively declined when BFA was added at late rimes post infection (p.i.). The effect of BFA on pr otein glycosylation is discussed.